Tufting attachment for sewing machines



May 30, 1939 w. F.0scHMlEDEL l 2,160,090 I 'IUFTINGV ATTACHMENT FORSEWING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Shea?I l, v

INVENTOR.

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ATTORNEY- May 30 1939- wA F. sCHMu-:DEL 2,160,090

TUFTING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINS Filed May 14, 1957 2 sheetssheet 2ATTOFNEY.

atente May 30, i939 OFFICE 'rnFTING A'r'mcnivmnrron snwme MAcs- WiiiiamF. Schmiedel; Oshkosh, Wis., assigner to Deltox Rug Company, (ishkosli,Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application May 14, 1937, Serial No.'142,534 'i claim. (oi. i12- '29,

l wherein the looper receives its reciprocatory motion directly from themain drive of the sewing machine, while the cutting instrumentalityreceives its power from anA independent source, thereby relieving themain drive of the machine l' of an undue burden and strain.

A further object of the invention is to provide tufting attachments ofthe character described which can be arranged for use with either singleor multiple needle sewing machines. g@ Heretofore, in sewing machinetufting attachments,` looped threads have been severed by means ofcutters which are swung or. reciprocated to and from' the formed loops.Where the severing of loops is accomplished with cutting in- 25strumentalities of this nature, the formed loops are necessarilyseveredl with a drawing or chopping action of the cutter. The presentinvention has as another object the provision of a revolving circularcutter mounted on a relatively g@ xed axis and arranged so that theformed loops are brought into contact with the revolving cutter. Thisarrangement has the advantages of providing substantially greatercutting edges which are not subjected to undue wear, provides 35 forcleaner and sharper severing of the formed loops, and also results in aconstruction wherein the cutters are removable without changing orlosing the original and proper adjustment or positioning of the cuttersrelative to the work.

4@ A further object of theinvention is to provide a tufting attachmentfor sewing machines wherein the cutter is susceptible of adjustment inall directions with the advantage that it may be adjusted very minutelyrelative to the'wrk to 45 properly position it-for different types ofyarn or thread being utilized and with the further advantage that as theknife edge wears down from usage, this may be compensated for byadjustment of the cutter axis. l 50 A further object 'of the inventionis to provide, in a tufting attachment for sewing machines, a

lcoper which is of very simple construction and which may be machinedand mounted in a very simple and expeditious manner, said looper furggther being formed with an integral guiding sur- .face to act as asupporting guide for the sewing machine needle during certain positionsof the same. y y

A further object of the invention is to provide a tufting attachment forsewing machines where- 5 in the looper is adjustable so that differentheight piles may be'eected in the tufted fabric produced on the sewingmachine.

A further object of the invention is to provide an attachment of theclass described-wherein a l0 previously formed and engaged loop on thelooper is severed during a reciprocation of the looper in one directionand atthe same time that another loop is being engaged and formed. AAfurther object of the invention is to provide a tufting attachment forsewing machines which is oi very simple' construction, is strong anddurable and inexpensive, and which is well adapted for the purposes setforth.

With the above and other objects in View, the invention consists of theimproved tufting attachment for sewing machines and its parts and.combinations as set forth in the claim, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawings in which the same reference charactersindicate the same parts in all of the views:

Fig. l is a fragmentary end elevation oi a sewing machine Vshowing theimproved tufting mechanism incorporated therein, portions of themalchine being broken away and in section;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary end elevation of a sewing machine having theimproved tufting mechanism incorporated therein, with portions of thebase of the machine in section, showing a dierent position of the needleand looper from that disclosed in Fig. 1, during the formation of a loopand severance of a previously formed loop;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 only showing the arrangement of theneedle and tuiting mecho anism during .another point oi" the sequence ofoperation of the mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on l line li-i of Fig. 1with certain cover plates removed; 45

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken on line 5--5 ofFig 4;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary detail sectional view of the ends of apair of 1oopers and showing the position of a pair of needles relativethereto;

Fig. 'l is av detail sectional view taken on line i-'i of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view taken on line 8 9 of Fig. 2. 55

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, it will appear that thesewing machine head is indicated generally by the nufneral I2 and saidhead includes a base portion I3. Extended longitudinally below the baseI3, mounted in suitable bearings, is an oscillatory drive shaft I4. Saiddrive shaft receives oscillatory motion from the usual pulley shaft I5extending through the u-pper endV of the head I2 by the followingmechanism: The pulley shaft is driven by the usual pulley (not shown)mounted on its outer end, and the inner end of the pulley shaft, withinthe upper portion of the head, has fast thereon an end of a crank I6.The outer end of said crank has pivotally secured thereto the upper endof a crank arm I1 and the lower end portion of said crank arm ispivotally secured to a portion of a slotted casting I8, and said castingis mounted fast on an intermediate portion of a lower rocking stud shaftI9. The adjacent end of the drive shaft i4 has fast thereon an arm 2D,and the other end portion of said arm carries a block 2| which ismovably engaged within the slot 22 in the casting I8. Hence, when thepulley shaft is turned, through the before described connections,oscillatory movement Will be imparted to the drive shaft I4.

Above the end of the base I3 opposite the head I2, there are mounted theusual vertical feeding foot and needle carrying rods designated by thenumerals 23, 24 and 25 respectively. In the particular exemplication ofthe invention .illus-- trated, the sewing machine operates a pair ofneedles 29 and 28 and said needlesv are depended from a bracket at thelower end of the needle `rod 25. it should be understood, however, thatthe invention is not to be restricted to any particular number ofneedles employed by the sewing machine, as it is possible to utilize anynumber of needles within certain ranges and in the latter event, thelooping and cutting mechanism, later .to be described, will be suited innumbers to the number of needles employed. The rod 23 carries ,an outerbifurcated element 26 of an improved feeding foot, while the rod 24carries an inner foot element 21 adaptedto be reciprocated in ahorizontal path relative to the outer foot element 26. Also, duringcertain portions of the movement of said foot element 21, it is'raisedand lowered slightly with respect to the work supporting plate 28 overwhich it is disposed. Conventional means are employed for jointlyreciprocating the rods 24 and 25 vertically and in a slightly orbitalpath. Inasmuch as the needles 29 and 29 are depended from the rod 25,the same are reciprocated orbitally and vertically relative to slottedopenings 33 in the foot element 21. Said needles are also adapted topass through needle slots 30 in the work'supporting plate 28 and intoclose proximity to the serrated edges 3l and 3|' of a yarn engagingplate member 32 secured to the under surface of the work engaging plateadjacent the needle slots 38.

Disposed below the plate I3, transversely thereof and adjacent theneedle slot 36, is a slotted supporting bracket 34. Within the slotthereof is slidably mounted a plate 35. One end portion of said platehas longitudinally and' vertically adjustably secured thereto (see Figs.3 and 8) the vertical flange of a right angular looper bracket 36. Onthe top flange of said looper bracket there are secured in spacedrelationship the o-uter ends of a pair of looper members 31. The innerend of each looper member is bent upwardly and forwardly to provide ahooked portion and at the pose of pinching the yam strands.

vcam 5I having an eccentric cam groove 52.

extremity of each hooked portion, there is a shoulder 38. It should alsobe observed that the inner ends and hooked portions of the loopers areslotted, as at 39. During operationof the sewing machine, the needles 29and 29' reciprocate in an orbital path adjacent the inner face' portionsof the hooked extremities of the loopers 31, and said inner faceportions are slightly dished as at 40 to permit close engagement of theneedle ends and to act as supports and needle guides.

As previously mentioned, the drive shaft I4 has an oscillatory movementimparted thereto. The

end of said shaft I4 adjacent the looper mechv anism, has fast thereon awheel 4 I pivotally secu ed to the outer face of. said wheel in anoff-'cen er relationship. Said block, while being free to move on itspivot 43, is slidably confined within a vertical slot 45 in a rearextension of a looper slidable plate 35. Through this connection,therefore, oscillatory movement of the shaft I4 is translated intoIreciprocatory movement imparted to the plate 35, which plate, carryingthe bracket 36 and loopers 3i, causes said loopers to move back andforth adjacent the needles 29 and 29 and below the supporting plateA 28.

As previously mentioned, the attachment includes a yarn engaging platemember 32 having a pair of spaced end edges 3l and 3i' for the pur- Theplate member 32 is slidably mounted longitudinally of the base I3immediately below the top surface thereof. An inner portion of saidplate 32 carries on its lower surface a depending block 43 which islongitudinally movable in a slot 4S in a lower supporting plate 58. Theyarn pinching plate 32 is adapted to slide on the upper surface of saidplate 50, between the same and the work supporting plate 26 of the basei3. Mounted fast on the drive shaft M, below the block 48, is a A camroller 53 is adapted to ride in said cam groove and said roller iscarried by a pin 54 depending from the plate member 32. The cam grooveis so shaped, that through the connections with the pinching platemember 32, when the needles 29 and 29 are in raised position, theserrated edges 3i and 3|' of the plate 32 will be away from the adjacentedges of the slotted openings in the work supporting yplate 28. However,when the' needles are in an intermediate position and the looperspositioned so that the loops are engaged by cutting instrumentalitieslater to be described for severing purposes, the plate 32 moves in aproper direction to pinch the strands of yarn between it and adjacentplate portions so that the formed loops will be held taut duringsevering operations. During continued travel of the needles and in anorbital path toward the left in the drawings. the pressure foot 26reciprocates to move the fabric, the movement of the fabric being aidedby the orbital movement of the needles toward the left while the needlesare passed through the fabric, and during this period, the cam 5I causesa quick short movement of the plate 32 in a direction so as to releasethe yarn.

Extending longitudinally of the base I3 and below the rear edge thereofis a cutter drive shaft 55 journaled at its ends in suitable bearings.The end of said shaft adjacent the head I2 has fast thereon a pulleywheel 56 engaged by a belt 51 extending to a suitable source of power(not shown). The other end portion of said shaft also carries` fastthereon a pulley 58 engaged by a aicopeo belt which belt also engages apulley t@ fast on the free end of a revoluble cutter shaft tl.

On the inner end portion of the shaft @i adjacent and alined with theslots il@ in the hooked ends of the loopers 3l, are a pair of spacedcirculai or disc, revolving cutters 62 and`62. Said discs are maintainedin spaced relation relative to each other and relative to a bearingblock t3 in which the shaft di revolves by means of collars tl. Saidbearing block is embraced by the U-shaped end portion t5 at the free endof an adjustable arm t5. Normally the block 63 is maintained firmlywithin said end portion (55' by a releasable clamp @Sie However, whensaid clamp is released, the bearing block, collars i513 and cutters 52and 52' may be moved or adjusted slightly longitudinally of the shaitiii. This arrangement provides for minute adjustments of the cutters toinsure perfect alinement of the same with the slots @il of the loopersSl in which the cutters revolve.

There is mounted on the cutter drive shaft 55? one end portion of abearing bracket tl. The inner face of the other end portion of saidbracket is engaged by the shank of the arm t5. This portion of 'the armis provided with an elongated slot @il through which the attened portionof a bolt 69 extends. The'bolt also has a rounded portion which extendsthrough the bracket lil. When the bolt is loosened, the entire arm 65and parts carried thereby including the cutter shaft di and the cutters,may be swung arcuately in a vertical plane. This permits adjustments ofthe cutters upwardly Aor downwardly relative to the loopers and thework.. Also, by virtue of the slot 6d, the arm b5 may be shiftedlongitudinally and this will advance or withdraw the peripheries of thecutters relative to the loopers and provides for another desirable formof adjustment.

A piece of fabric ld, of a predeterminedsize to forni a rug, ispositioned on the base i3 and work supporting plate 2d and the strandsof yarn lli, or other material to be used, are threaded through theneedles 29 and 29', and when sewed through the material, the same formtwo spaced apart parallel lines of looped stitching, and the loops ofeach are cut to form the pile ofthe rug.

The outer free hooked'ends of the loopers are beveled, as shown in Figs.5 and 6, to permit easy entrance of the same between the needle sidesand the strands in forming the loops, and the shoulders 3d at the outerends of the loopers, prevent the loops from slipping oi when the loopersare reciprocated rearwardly, or toward the cutters. In the formation ofloops, the strands li have upwardly extending portions which engage innotches in the plate 2t, and these means serve to hold formed loopstightly on the loopers and-prevent slippage when the loopers and feedreciprocate forwardly during upward reciprocation of thel needles. Also,the engagement of the yarn strands with said plate is important inconnection with theapinching operation of the pinching plate 32 duringloop cutting operations, as previously mentioned.

n operation, the needles 29 and 29' having the strands threadedtherethrough, reciprocate downwardly through the fabric and through theneedle slots 3@ of the plate 28. At the lower end of their reciprocationtheneedles enter the dished `portions d@ on the inner faces of theloopers whereby lateral flexure of the needles is prevented. The upwardmovement of the needles will cause the yarn to slacken, and at the sametime, the looper plate, carrying the loopers, will move forwardly tocause the shouldered ends of the loopers to move between the strands andthe 'needles to a point where the looper shoulders 33 have passedbeyondthe strands. As the needles rise out of the fabric, the feeding members25 and 2li operate to push the fabric rearwardly, which movement hasbeen started by the orbital movement of the needles, and the loopersalso reciprocate rearwardly, during which time the upwardly extendingstrand portions of the loops are held taut, as previously described.

In Fig. l there is illustrated a needle in its uppermost position withthe looper in itsk vforwardmost position. At this stage, a previouslyformed loop has been forced rearwardly on the looper and another loop isengaged on the looper adjacent the shoulder 3i?. As the needle movesdownwardly, the looper is reciprocated rearwardly toward the revolvingcutter t2 until it reaches a point where the previously formed loop isengaged kand severed by the cutter, as inFig. 2, the last formed loop,however, being maintained intact.`

After this operation, the needle starts to move upwardly and the looperthen reciprocates forwardly into a newly formed loop and as the up- Wardmovement of the needle is continued and as the looper reciprocatesforwardly, the loop thus formed is engaged on the looper, as in Fig. 3..

Thereafter, the sequence of operations described is repeated, and itwill be observed that only one loop in a row is severed at a time andthe looper always has engaged thereon a later formed loop. Obviously,the cut loops form tufts on the fabric, andas the work progresses, saidtufts move rearwardly in the elongated needle slot and are accommodatedthereby. 'When the tufts reach the end of the needle slot, they arewithdrawn therefrom by a rearward movement of the fabric.

It will be appreciated that with the improvedv tufting attachments theordinary drive rnecha.-4 nism for the sewing machine, which is alsoutilized to reciprocate the loopers, is not subjected to undue strain oroverload. because a separate driving instrumentality is utilized forrevolving the disc cutters tit, which may be continuously revolved at ahigh rate of speed. Due to the fact vthat the cutters are circular, theypresent4 much greater cutting surfaces than is found in other forms ofcutters for this purpose and there is no undue wear on any one edgeportion of the cut ter. Due to the fact that the cutters are main tainedon a relatively fixed axis and that the loops are reciprocated towardthe cutters, the loops are severed with ya clean and quick cut insteadof by 4a hackingor chopping action as is the case where reciprocal orpivotal cutters are utilized. The cutters in the present attachments arereadily removable for sharpening or replacement, and when it isnecessary to temporarily remove a cutter from its shaft 6 l, the cuttermay be readily replaced without losing the position r of adjustment ofthe same, due to the fact that same sewing machine, and it is alsoobvious that' 'IISl the machine may be equipped with any number ofneedles and a like number of cutters and loopers.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the improved tuftingattachment is of simp1`e and novel construction, requires littlemodication of a standard sewing machine, and

on a normally fixed axis toward which the looper is reciprocated, anadjustable mounting for the cutter comprising a supporting member, anarm having its outer end angularly and longitudinally adjustably mountedon the supporting member,

a bearing block adjustably secured in the inner end of said arm, and adriven cutter shaft journaled in said bearing block, the circular cutterbeing mounted on said shaft to turn therewith and beiner axiallyadjustable on said shaft.

WILLIAM F. SCHM'JEDEL.

